our design process
The design process begins with gaining an understanding of the client, company and industry. The more familiar we are with the project, audience, and goals, the more effective we will be as problem-solvers during the development process. At Engines of Creation.com we follow a simple yet effective planning steps to ensure that your project stays on track:
- Client Survey
- Define Goals & Objectives
- Create a Project Plan
- Design & Prototype
- Build & Test
- Launch Website
- Evaluate & Maintain
Client Survey
We place heavy emphasis on information gathering. We gather initial data quickly using our simple client survey. This survey will solicit client information concerning overall audience, goals, technology, and more. In some situations the client survey is our only resource of gathering initial data and is essential to the design and development process to ensure that we address each element of the company.
Our client survey covers the following topics:
- Company/Client
- Industry
- Strategy/Marketing/Branding
- Current Site
- Competition
- Audience
- Products and Services
- Other
Understanding your audience is essential to a positive user experience for your clients and customers. The content and design should be focused and the functionality should support the needs of its audience. We will gather general demographics about your primary and secondary audience to determine the best structure for your design and content. The more information we can gather from you and your industry the better prepared we are to develop a design that will meet your user's needs.
Define Goals and Objectives
The cornerstone of every project is its core goals and objectives. These goals and objectives answer and define important questions such as "What do we need to do?" and "How are we going to do it?" By asking these simple yet important questions it helps us answer and define if the site has met the required goals before launch, if it meets the user's needs and requirement and does it reinforce your brand and marketing message?
"Without a clear and concise strategy for development, launch and upkeep a new project could have a weak foundation before it even starts."
You may have one or more goals and objectives for the website such as "Increasing traffic" or to "Create a stronger brand identity online" or perhaps you wish to "Increase your online sales revenue". It is important to determine the primary goal of the site and make sure that it is continuously represented and followed through throughout the site, followed by your secondary goals and objectives.
Create a Project Plan
The project plan is the guideline and overview for the project scope. It can take many forms, from an extensive document (sometimes called a scope document or a project charter) to a simple overview of methodology, budget and schedule.
The project plan contains enough information and detail to accurately describe the project to you and your team as well as our web development team. This plan outlines the project phases, the schedule, budget and deliverables. We make sure to keep you in the loop and have you approve and sign off on this deliverable (along with all other important papers and milestone documents).
Once the project starts, any changes to this document will result in an AC (additional charge) or project delay� to avoid this we take great care to define and outline development needs in a careful manner.
Design & Prototype
Now that the initial planning phases are completed we move forward and begin working on your new websites design and functionality based on the material and goals gathered in the previous steps.
For large or complicated websites, after we have chosen your layout, we begin by designing your site layout in HTML, without color or any specific images. In our experience this is far more productive because it gives you a look at the layout and function, without being distracted by design.
If your "grey" version of your website is satisfactory, this is where we spread our creative wings and begin the design phase adding colors, fonts, and images
For smaller less complicated websites we often work off an image prototype or "mock up" of what your finished home page and or sub-page could look like. This is where it is easiest to make changes if necessary in the design or add/remove functionality.
At Engines of Creation.com we focus our attention on key web design & usability issues, issues like:
- Page Layout
- Ease of Navigation
- Site Flow
- Site Usability / Accessibility
- Aesthetics
We want keep your users coming back by giving them a positive web site experience. This is where it is easiest to make changes if necessary in the design or add/remove functionality. After your review and approval, this design will represent the finished product.
Build & Test
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, ColdFusion, SQL programming and all other related programming, digital media development and 3rd party application integration are developed during this phase. These applications are the central nervous system of your site, and great care is taken here to ensure that they conform to your sites goals and objectives and meet the design prototypes specifications. During this phase we continuously test and "dry run" your website against all of the major internet browsers and monitor resolutions and correct development or design issues if any.
Launch Website
This phase is about launching your site, and what you need to think about before, during and after the site goes live. Are all your marketing efforts in place? Is your textual content exactly the way you want it? Instead of reacting and fixing haphazardly, we plan ahead and schedule time to prioritize any post-launch fixes necessary to ensure quality and usability.
evaluate & maintain
At the beginning of the project, specific goals and objectives for the website were defined. Now that the project is completed and the site is live, it is time to take a step back and review the project as a whole and ensure that it not only meets your goals and objectives but continues to do so through maintenance and updates. It is during this phase that we recommend a monthly maintenance plan if you haven't already chosen one to ensure that your new website continues to look fresh and continues to run smoothly.
To begin your website project the first step is to pick up the phone and call us at (518) 842-3242 to set up an initial consultation, or fill out our brief contact form and we will get back to you shortly.